Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251
A United States Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II fighter attack squadron known as the Thunderbolts.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, abbreviated VMFA-251 and known as the Thunderbolts or T-Bolts, is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Its aircraft use the callsigns T-Bolt and Sword. The squadron is currently organized around the F-35C Lightning II, the carrier-capable variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, following a transition from the F/A-18C Hornet. The unit traces its lineage to Marine Observation Squadron 251, commissioned on 1 December 1941 at Naval Air Station North Island, California. During World War II it operated Grumman F4F Wildcats in the Pacific, taking part in the Guadalcanal, Southern Solomons, Santa Cruz, Luzon, and Southern Philippines campaigns. It later converted to the Vought F4U Corsair and was redesignated Marine Fighter Squadron 251 in February 1945. The squadron flew combat missions in the Philippines through the final months of the war and was deactivated at Samar on 1 June 1945. It returned as a Marine Corps ready-reserve unit at Grosse Ile, Michigan, on 1 July 1946. The Korean War brought a return to active service and a transition to the Douglas AD-4 Skyraider. The unit became Marine Attack Squadron 251 in April 1951 and deployed to Korea in June 1953. Although its combat participation covered only the closing weeks of the war, it flew more than 300 combat sorties and was credited with the final Marine aircraft combat mission of the conflict on 27 July 1953. It then remained in Korea for approximately two and a half years on air-defense duties along the Demilitarized Zone. During the Cold War the squadron operated a succession of jet fighters, including the FJ-3 Fury, F8U Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, and F/A-18 Hornet. In 1957 it adopted the Thunderbolts name, its current insignia, the DW tail code, and the motto Custos Caelorum, meaning Guardians of the Sky. Its deployments included carrier operations, exercises and alert missions in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Western Pacific, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, Spain, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. In 1964 it became the first squadron in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to transition to the F-4 and received the VMFA designation. The squadron flew combat missions in Bosnia during Operation Deny Flight in 1994, marking the first Marine squadron combat sorties in Europe since World War I. It subsequently supported carrier operations associated with Operation Southern Watch and deployed with Carrier Air Wing One. Following the September 11 attacks, VMFA-251 deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2003 it operated from Kuwait during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying more than 650 combat missions and dropping more than 7,100 weapons. Later deployments supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a 2007 deployment aboard USS Enterprise. VMFA-251 deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on 23 April 2020, after returning from a deployment supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. The deactivation ended 34 years of Hornet operations but did not end the unit's lineage. It relocated to Cherry Point for conversion to the F-35C, received its first aircraft on 17 September 2024, and was reactivated on 5 December 2024.
History
VMFA-251 began as Marine Observation Squadron 251, commissioned at Naval Air Station North Island on 1 December 1941. After moving through bases in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, the squadron entered the Pacific War with the F4F Wildcat. It participated in campaigns around Guadalcanal, the Southern Solomons, Santa Cruz, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. Conversion to the F4U Corsair followed in 1943, and the unit became Marine Fighter Squadron 251 in February 1945. It operated in the Philippines until its last World War II combat mission on 1 May 1945, then deactivated at Samar on 1 June. The squadron was reactivated as a ready-reserve unit at Grosse Ile, Michigan, on 1 July 1946. The Korean War brought recall to active service and conversion to the AD-4 Skyraider. Redesignated Marine Attack Squadron 251 in April 1951, it deployed to Korea in June 1953 and flew more than 300 combat sorties during the final weeks of the war. It remained in Korea after the armistice, providing air-defense coverage along the Demilitarized Zone. In the later 1950s the squadron moved through several jet types and locations. It operated the FJ-3 Fury at Marine Corps Air Station Miami, adopted the Thunderbolts name and its current heraldic identity, and then transitioned to the F8U Crusader at El Toro. Carrier qualifications and overseas activity included operations involving Japan, the Philippines, Okinawa, and the western Pacific. In 1961 it joined Marine Aircraft Group 31 at Beaufort and deployed to the Caribbean during a period of regional tension. From February to August 1962 it became the first Marine F-8 squadron to deploy aboard a carrier, operating with Carrier Air Group Ten on USS Shangri-La. On 31 October 1964 the squadron became the first unit in 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to transition to the F-4 Phantom II and received the VMFA designation. Its Cold War record included exercises and alert missions in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic, and the western Pacific. Deployments to Turkey, Spain, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark supported NATO activities. In Iceland in 1982, the squadron conducted hot-pad alert operations and intercepted six Soviet Bear bombers. After 21 years and approximately 85,000 flight hours with the Phantom, it transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in 1986 and became combat ready in 1987. The unit later moved to the F/A-18C. The 1990s brought combat operations in Europe. From January through April 1994, VMFA-251 flew close-air-support missions from Aviano, Italy, in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The squadron subsequently joined Carrier Air Wing One and supported carrier deployments connected with Operations Southern Watch and other regional missions. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the squadron deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt with Carrier Air Wing One. In the North Arabian Sea it participated in Operation Enduring Freedom against al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. In 2003 it deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Airbase in Kuwait, initially supporting Operation Southern Watch and then Operation Iraqi Freedom. During that deployment it flew more than 650 combat missions, accumulated over 1,200 combat flight hours, and released more than 7,100 weapons. Subsequent deployments supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a 2007 cruise aboard USS Enterprise. The unit deactivated at Beaufort on 23 April 2020 after a deployment supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Its deactivation ended its 34-year period as an F/A-18 Hornet squadron. The lineage continued at Cherry Point as the unit transitioned to the F-35C. The first F-35C was received in September 2024, and the squadron was reactivated on 5 December 2024.
- 2024
F-35C transition and reactivation
[1]The unit received its first F-35C on 17 September and was reactivated on 5 December at Cherry Point.
- 2020
Deactivation at Beaufort
[1]The Thunderbolts deactivated on 23 April after returning from an Operation Inherent Resolve deployment.
- 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment
[1]Operating from Kuwait, the squadron supported Operation Southern Watch and then Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- 2001
Operation Enduring Freedom deployment
[1]The squadron deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt and supported strikes in Afghanistan.
- 1994
Operation Deny Flight
[1]VMFA-251 flew close-air-support missions from Aviano in support of operations over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- 1986
F/A-18 transition
[1]After its long Phantom period, the squadron began transitioning to the F/A-18A Hornet.
- 1964
F-4 transition and VMFA designation
[1]The unit became the first 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing squadron to transition to the F-4 Phantom II and was redesignated VMFA-251.
- 1957
Thunderbolts identity adopted
[1]The squadron adopted the Thunderbolts name, its current insignia, the DW tail code, and the motto Custos Caelorum.
- 1953
Korean War combat deployment
[1]The squadron deployed to Korea and flew its final Marine combat mission of the war on 27 July.
- 1951
Redesignated VMA-251
[1]The squadron adopted the AD-4 Skyraider and became Marine Attack Squadron 251 on 20 April.
Products and positioning
A Marine Corps expeditionary fighter attack squadron combining carrier aviation, air defense, close air support, and strike capabilities. Its current identity centers on the F-35C Lightning II and integration with naval carrier forces.
Carrier-capable multirole fighter · 2024
F-35C Lightning II
The F-35C is the carrier-capable variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. It is VMFA-251's current aircraft following the squadron's relocation to Cherry Point and its post-2020 reactivation.
Fighter attack aircraft · 1990
F/A-18C Hornet
The F/A-18C formed the squadron's principal combat aircraft during much of the post-Cold War period. VMFA-251 used the Hornet for operations over Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other expeditionary deployments before beginning its F-35C conversion.
Supersonic fighter-bomber · 1964
F-4 Phantom II
VMFA-251 transitioned to the F-4 in 1964 and operated the aircraft for approximately 21 years. The Phantom supported carrier activity, NATO exercises, air-defense alerts, and deployments across Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Supersonic fighter · 1958
F8U Crusader
The Crusader was used during the squadron's early 1960s carrier and overseas operations. VMFA-251 became the first Marine F-8 squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier as part of Carrier Air Group Ten.
Propeller-driven fighter-bomber · 1943
F4U Corsair
The squadron converted from the F4F Wildcat to the F4U Corsair during World War II and used it in the Philippines campaign, including combat operations from Samar and Leyte.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq and Kuwait
From Ahmed Al Jaber Airbase, the squadron supported Operation Southern Watch before shifting to combat operations in Iraq.
Outcome. The unit flew more than 650 combat missions, logged over 1,200 combat hours, and released more than 7,100 weapons.
- 2001Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan and North Arabian Sea
VMFA-251 deployed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt with Carrier Air Wing One and participated in attacks against al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan.
Outcome. The carrier strike group conducted an extended deployment after the September 11 attacks.
- 1994Operation Deny Flight
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Europe
From Aviano, Italy, the squadron conducted close-air-support missions during the international air operation over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Outcome. The deployment represented the first Marine squadron combat sorties in Europe since World War I.
- 1953Korean War
Korean Peninsula
The squadron flew AD-4 Skyraider combat missions during the closing weeks of the Korean War and subsequently provided air defense along the Demilitarized Zone.
Outcome. It flew more than 300 combat sorties and remained in Korea after the armistice.
- 1945Southern Philippines and Leyte operations
Philippines
Operating F4U Corsairs with Marine Aircraft Group 14, the squadron supported operations in the Philippines through its final World War II combat mission.
Outcome. The squadron completed its World War II combat service on 1 May 1945.
- 1942Guadalcanal campaign
Pacific theater
The squadron operated F4F Wildcats in the Guadalcanal and Southern Solomons campaigns during World War II.
Outcome. The unit received campaign recognition as part of the Allied Pacific effort.
Brand decisions
2024
Reactivation as an F-35C squadronGeneration changeBackground
The unit completed the initial stage of its conversion to the carrier-capable F-35C Lightning II.
Action taken
VMFA-251 received its first F-35C on 17 September and was reactivated on 5 December.
Aftermath
The Thunderbolts returned to the active Marine Corps aviation order of battle with a fifth-generation fighter platform.
2020
Deactivation and relocation for F-35 conversionStrategyBackground
The Marine Corps reorganized the unit as part of the transition from legacy Hornets to the F-35C.
Action taken
The squadron deactivated at Beaufort and relocated to Cherry Point for F-35C conversion.
Aftermath
The lineage was restored through reactivation in December 2024 as an F-35C squadron.
1986
Transition to the F/A-18 HornetGeneration changeBackground
After an extended F-4 operating period, the squadron began conversion to the newer multirole Hornet.
Action taken
The unit transitioned to the F/A-18A and became combat ready in March 1987, later moving to the F/A-18C.
Aftermath
The Hornet became the squadron's principal platform for post-Cold War combat operations.
1964
Transition to the F-4 Phantom IIGeneration changeBackground
The squadron required a modern supersonic fighter for Marine Corps and carrier aviation missions.
Action taken
VMFA-251 became the first 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing squadron to transition to the F-4 and adopted the VMFA designation.
Aftermath
The Phantom remained the squadron's aircraft for approximately 21 years.
Sources1 sources
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